Many flowering perennials need to be cut regularly for care reasons, but not the bleeding heart. The exotic-looking flowering perennial retreats into its rhizomes immediately after flowering, so you don't have to cut it back. Only dead shoots can be removed.
When and how should the bleeding heart be cut?
The Bleeding Heart does not require regular pruning. However, dead stems can be removed after flowering to extend the flowering period. Cuttings or root cuttings are cut for propagation shortly after flowering or in late autumn.
When to cut the Bleeding Heart
Regular pruning is not necessary for bleeding hearts. However, you can extend the flowering period of the perennial by regularly removing dead stems. This prevents the plant from investing its energy in producing fruits and seeds - instead, it simply produces new flowers. The yellow, wilted leaves after the flowering period - and after the plant has already withdrawn - can also be removed.
Cut cuttings
In addition to these caring pruning measures, you can also use a knife if you want to propagate the bleeding heart and therefore cut cuttings or root cuttings.
Cut cuttings
The best time to take cuttings is also shortly after flowering.
- Cut off shoots about 15 centimeters long.
- These should still be green.
- Remove the bottom leaves.
- Place the seedlings in a glass of fresh water.
- Place the glass in a bright and protected place.
- Change the water daily.
- The cuttings will root within 15 to 20 days.
- Then you can either plant them directly outdoors or
- in a pot with a sand-peat mixture.
Make sure to overwinter the young plants adequately, i.e. if frost threatens, protect them with a layer of mulch, leaves or brushwood or overwinter them in cold house conditions.
Cutting root cuttings
In winter or late autumn - best in October / November - you can also propagate the bleeding heart by taking root cuttings. For this measure, choose a frost-free day.
- Carefully expose the thick roots of the plant.
- Cut off quite thick pieces about three to five centimeters long.
- Clean any adherent soil.
- Fill a planting bowl with a moist mixture of sand and humus soil.
- Plant the root cuttings there horizontally.
- Keep them moist and overwinter at around 12°C.
- In spring, the rooted cuttings can finally be planted outdoors.
Tip
Of course, you can also plant the freshly cut root cuttings outdoors, but then rooting and growth will be much slower.